Tim Frodsham, 28 January, 2025
I have always been an ardent student and advocate of priesthood blessings. When my children were young, I would spend time contemplating, seeking inspiration from the Holy Spirit before laying my hands on my precious charges to bless them in time of need, or time of change. Priesthood blessings were an integral part of important events such as the first day of school, start of college, start of a mission, before marriage and dealing with a problem or crisis. Don’t let this small list hinder you from taking advantage of any opportunity to bless your children, your grandchildren and any others who cross your path.
Quotes in this blog are from the April 2018 Russell M Nelson, “Ministering with the Power and Authority of God”.
“Brethren, we hold the holy priesthood of God! We have His authority to bless His people. Just think of the remarkable assurance the Lord gave us when He said, ‘Whomsoever you bless I will bless.’ It is our privilege to act in the name of Jesus Christ to bless God’s children according to His will for them.”
Using priesthood power, as a father and grandfather, I called down angels from heaven to surround, protect and nurture the children God entrusted to my care. At the time, we were forbidden by church leaders to record these blessings, and it was not until an empty Nester that the brethren encouraged us to record these moments to pass on to our children.
“Not long ago, I attended a sacrament meeting in which a new baby was to be given a name and a father’s blessing. The young father held his precious infant in his arms, gave her a name, and then offered a beautiful prayer. But he did not give that child a blessing. That sweet baby girl got a name but no blessing! That dear elder did not know the difference between a prayer and a priesthood blessing. With his priesthood authority and power, he could have blessed his infant, but he did not. I thought, “What a missed opportunity!”
In a post on my regular blog, I described a hike down the Zion Narrows, where my young scout leader called down the powers of heaven. It was more than a tremendous prayer. There is a powerful difference between offering a heartfelt prayer to our God, and using Priesthood authority to call down the power of Heaven.
“It is a remarkable blessing to serve in the Lord’s true and living Church with His authority and power. The restoration of the priesthood of God, including the keys of the priesthood, opens to worthy Latter-day Saints the greatest of all spiritual blessings. We see those blessings flowing to women, men, and children throughout the world.”
As a young father and scout leader, I also had home teaching assignments to several families, one of which was my youth leader in the post on the Zions Narrows. I was working in my yard one day when he came down the street to tell me his parents were divorcing. He wanted me to come give him and his siblings a priesthood. On entering their home, mom was there, but from the icy reception, I knew she wanted nothing to do with priesthood or blessings. I started with the youngest child, and rather than pronouncing a prayer of council, I gave a blessing. I called down angels to protect and comfort this tiny daughter of God. Child by Child, I worked up the family, using Priesthood power and authority to call blessings, protection and comfort on this distressed family. When I finished the last child, That confused, stressed and shaken mother sat down in the chair for her own blessing. I was honored to pronounce upon her a priesthood blessing as well.
“Brethren, there are doors we can open, priesthood blessings we can give, hearts we can heal, burdens we can lift, testimonies we can strengthen, lives we can save, and joy we can bring into the homes of the Latter-day Saints—all because we hold the priesthood of God.”
Among other things, the power of the priesthood sets us apart form all the religions and all the sects of the world. We as fathers have a right and privilege to call down the powers of heaven in behalf of our wives, our children, family and any in our circle who request a blessing from God.
Latter-Day Saints 